How To Apply For A Sweden Student Visa From Nigeria

Sweden is a beautiful Scandinavian country. It is located in Northern Europe and is characterized by coastal islands, lakes, forests, and Glacier Mountains. It is an innovative and economically viable country with various career and educational opportunities for Nigerian international students.

Recently, I compiled a list of some of the best Swedish schools to study in as a Nigerian international student. You can read up on that article here.

Sweden’s student visa for a study stay of fewer than 3 months is a national D-visa issued by the Migration Agency in Sweden. If your studies in Sweden last longer than three months, you’ll need a residence permit before traveling to Sweden.

You’ll be eligible for a Swedish student residence permit if: 

• You can prove that you have been admitted to a course program at an accredited Swedish university or institute.
• You have comprehensive health insurance to cover all medical expenses.
• You can support yourself for the duration of your course. You are required to have SEK8, 010 ($940) a month for at least 10 months for every year of your stay, in addition to that, you must pay the first installment of your tuition fees (which must be paid before you’ll receive your student residence permit). The required amount is reduced if you receive free lodging or food or have a scholarship grant.

Please take note that you will need to renew your permit annually.

Sweden Student Visa Requirements

1. A valid International Passport: You need an international passport that will be valid for at least 3 months after the expiration of your student visa.
2. The student resident permit application form. This is done either online or via the embassy.
3. A copy of the first page of your passport which shows your details, the period of validity, and whether you have permission to live in countries other than Nigeria.
4. Two recently taken colour photographs in passport format that are no older than six months and are 45 mm x 35 mm in size. The photos must be taken against a light background and show you looking straight ahead.
5. Admission decision or letter of acceptance showing that you have been admitted to study a programme or courses full-time.
6. Copy of document proving that you have comprehensive medical insurance coverage in Sweden (if you have been admitted to studies that last less than one year). If you are insured through the University or University College, enclose a certificate to prove this. Click here for our article on where to get your travel insurance.
7. Bank statement showing that you have the means to support yourself. This bank statement, which you are to enclose to your application, should be dated in connection with the time of application and be translated into English OR documents issued in your name, showing that you have received a scholarship or similar (e.g. student aid), including information about the monthly amount and the period during which you will receive such funds OR documents proving that you have been awarded an educational grant (only applies to doctoral students) or have been employed as a doctoral student, with information regarding the amount and the period during which you will receive such funds.
8. Swedish online visa application fee is SEK1000 for adults and SEK500 for minors, this fee is paid online with a credit or debit card in connection with the residence permit application.
9. A copy of your ticket for the return journey.
10. Suppose you are accompanied by children – the form Application for co-applicants. Note that additional documents are required for applicants under the age of 18. If your family is accompanying you to Sweden, each family member must submit their application.

Sweden Student Residence Permit Application Process

To begin the Swedish student residence permit process online you must:

• Have reached the age of 18
• Have a valid e-mail address.
• Be able to pay the application fee using a Visa card or MasterCard.
• Be able to scan or photograph the documents to be attached.
• Have a program that reads in pdf format i.e. adobe or acrobat reader.

The Swedish student residence permit application process includes the following steps 

1. Pay your first tuition fee installment.
2. Begin your online student residence permit application.
3. Prepare and upload all your supporting documentation for the residence application process.
4. Submit your online application.
5. Pay the application fee online.
6. After your online application, the Swedish Migration Agency will begin to assess your submitted application right away.
7. For the Swedish Migration Agency to make a decision about your application, all the details need to be filled in and all supporting documents enclosed. This is necessary to shorten your approval time.
8. The current waiting time for a residence permit for studies is three months or more, so be sure to submit your application as soon as possible after receiving your notification of admission. You will receive an e-mail stating that a decision has been made concerning your residence permit application.
9. You must contact the Swedish embassy in Abuja to get your actual decision and possibly book an appointment for this. When you come to collect your decision, you must bring your passport.
10. You’ll need an entry visa to travel to Sweden and visit the Swedish embassy in Abuja as soon as you have been granted a student residence permit to be photographed and fingerprinted. This is so that you can be given a residence permit card and travel to Sweden.

Where Do I Process my Swedish Student Residence Permit Offline?

The Swedish embassy in Abuja also accepts student residence permits but visa and residence permit applications are received by appointment only.

Appointment bookings are handled by e-mail: migration.abuja@gov.se. Please note that you must specify the purpose of the appointment and include the following information:

• Your full name,
• Date of birth,
• Citizenship,
• Passport number,
• Contact information
• Your visa application fee payment bank teller number.

E-mails are answered in 1-2 weeks. The waiting period to get an appointment for an interview for a residence permit is 2-3 months and for visas 2-3 weeks. During spring/summer, the waiting period can be up to 6 weeks.

After your appointment is scheduled, you will have to visit the Sweden Embassy In Nigeria which is at 41 T. Y. Danjuma Street Asokoro, Abuja.

Where to Pay for a Swedish Student Residence Permit?

All application fees shall be paid at Zenith Bank account No: 1130018871.

Please take note that the Embassy does not accept cash payments. You must always pay the fee before you visit the Embassy.